Railroad-crossing gate



May 24 1927 A w. B. wTsoN RAILROAD CROSSING y(VJE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1926 4 C May 2 1927 w. B. WATSON RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed March 3o, 192e -5 sheets-sheet 2 ISEE-Hman f7, 61,;,m4MY-3 May 24, 1927. 1,629,605

W. B. WATSON RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed March 30, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1927.

W. B. WATSON RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed March 30. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1,629,605 May 24 1927 w. B. wATsoN RAILROAD CROSSING GATE 5 Sheets-Sheei -5 Filed March 30, 1926 auen/Ufo@ f arten-m3.;

Patented May 24, 1927.

- UNITI-:D STATES? PATENT' oerlcE.

WILLIAM BEDFORD WATSON, 0F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

nAILnoAD-cRossmG earn;

applicati@ mea Haren so, 192s. serial No. 98,561.

The invention relates -to safety means for minimizing casualties at railroad crossings and aims to'provide agate at each 51de ofj the railroad which normally housedwlthin a pitand which is automatically pro]ected into operative position upon the approach of a train in either direction, lthe gates being-A returned to normal position after the train has passed the crossing. Y

The invention relates toelectrically operated mechanisms including motors, brakes and switches, which are controlled by the train, the circuits being automatically closed by the train when' it has approached Vthe f crossing a predetermined distance and said circuits being automatically "broken and brakes applied when the mechanisms have reached a given point in their operation,

thereby preventing an overthrow of the gates'in either direction and insuring their return to clo:ed position after the necessity of guarding the crossing has passed..l

The invention furthermore contemplates a closing plate for the --pit in whichthe gate is housed, applied to and movable with the gate, thereby reventing any obstruction or interference with the free movements aof the gate or the vclosure for the gate receiving p1t.

Any suitable electrical appliances may be employed as adjunctive and accessory to the gate operating mechanisms, ,hence in the4 practical embodiment of the invention it is' to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements the design .may be varied, and such other changes ,inthe minor details of construction may be resorted .to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a `full understanding of the invention l and the merits thereof, reference is to be larged scale, the cover of the pitv being yomit-ted.

Figure 5 is a side view of the gate,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, a portion of one vofthe struts being broken away, Figure 7 is' an enlarged detail sectional view oyn'the line 7 7 of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is 'an enlarged elevational .view

of an end member,

, Figure 9 is an edge view of the end member, ,and y y VFigure 10 is a diagrammatical view de signed to illustrate the circuits.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the vseveral views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring more-particularly to Figure 1A of the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the tracks of a railroad and -3 thestreet, road or other thoroughfare crossing the same. In accordance with the inventlo'n, a gate is located at' the crossing upon each side of the railroad and is normally housed Within a pit 4 so as to be out of the waywhenJ not required to give protection. The o rating mechanism is located wit-hin a pit' 5 adjacent the pit 4 and in communication therewith. The two pits, 4 and 5, are closed by suitable covers which are `iush with the surface. -The cover for the pit 4 is designated by the numeral 6 and is. attached to the gate to move therewith. The cover for the pit 5 consists of a metal plate 7 which is fitted into a shouldered frame 8 located 'ioA at the mouth ofthe pit.v lSuitable circuit closing `devices 9 and 10 are located along the line of the tracks vat a predetermined I distance from the crossing and these devices are train operated' to insure projection of the gates upon' the approach -of a train and return of the gates to closed position after the train has passed the crossing. In this connection, it is observed that suit-able elec- 100 ,tric conductors are interposed .betweenthe respective circuit" closing devices and the electrically operated gate .actuating mechanisms, and these conductors may be arrangedI in any preferred wa, either underground or Y over head so ,as to y out ofthe way.

The gates may be of any preferred construction and preferably consist of metal bars and as shown, the gate comprises an upper bar- 10, a` lower bar 11, end bars 12 119 irons,

lOf

`cally disposedrack bars 17 are located at the ends and intermediate the ends of the gates and constitute means for moving the gates vertically when opening and closing the same. A gea/1` wheel 18 coacts with each of vthe rack bars 17 and is in mesh therewith and is fast to a shaft 19 mounted in suitable bearings. 20 and this shaft is positively rotated in each direction to elevate or lower the gates as required. It is to be understood that the gate is mounted so as to move vertically in a given plane without any binding action and for this purpose grooved rollers 21 are provided and mounted in brackets 22. The grooved rollers 21 engage flanges of the struts 13 and are located upon one side of the gate whereas the shaft 19 and gear lwheels 18 are disposed upon the opposite side of the gate which is thus held in place and directed in its vertical movements.

. The numeral 23 designates an electric motor which may be connected with the shaft 19 in any preferred way and as indicated, a sprocket drive chain 24 connects, sprocket wheels 25 and 26 fast to the respec- "tive shafts 19 and-27, the latter designating the shaft of the motor. The numeral 28 .designates a solenoid brake which may be of the self contained floor mounted type unless a motor mounted type is preferred. The solenoid may be enclosed, ventilated and made rain proof and will be suitable for operation on circuits having a high, normal, or lower voltage. The numeral 29 deslgnates a magnetic reversible switch and 30 a limit switch of the geared type having two normally closed Acontacts 31 and 31a adapted to-be operated by a traveling nut 32 which can be adjusted to stop the motor atfthe required point. The limit switch 30 is enclosed in a weatherproof case, as indicated in Figure 4.,- In the installation of the invention, the contact switches 9 and 10 are located any "determinate distance from the crossing, as

for instance, a mile, more or less, and positioned to operate the magnetic lswitch 29, which in turn controls the current to the motor `23 and theA solenoidVV brake .28. The switches'9 and 10 may be of any type or designusually employed to be closed by a movlng train and which normally are open. The'- reversible .switch 29 comprises electromagnets 33 and 3 3, anl armature 34,?. rockA shaft 35 and a plurality of arms 36, 36, 36l1 and 36c projecting from the rock shaft 35.

When the train approaches the crossing from the right, vas indicated by the arrow in Figure 10, and reaches is' actuated to close the circuit through the electromagnet 33 which becoming energized attracts one end of the armature and rocks the shaft 35 to close the circuits through the motor 23 and the solenoid of the brake to the motor. The gate is now elevated and the switch 9, the latter t mechanisms 28. Thus, the brake is released l at the same instant that current is supplied at the same time the limit switch is actuated by rotation of the threaded shaft 37 carrying f the. nut 32. When the gate reaches the limit of its upward movement the nut 32 has approached the end of its travel in one direction and operated the circuit closer 31 to break the circuit to the motor 23 and solenoidl of the brake 28. The instant the motor stops the brake is applied and holds the gate elevated. The gates are elevated before the train approaches the crossing and remain up until thel train reaches a point to operate the switch 10 and close the circuit through the electromagnet 33, thereby reversing the armature 34 and shaft 35 andagain closing the circuit through the motor 23 and the solenoid 'of the brake 28. lThe motor is now reversed and the gate lowered.A During this Y movement. the nut 32 travels in an opposite the nut 32 of the limit switch actuates the switch 31a and interrupts the motor and brake circuits, thereby stopping the motor and setting the brake \t0 hold the gate in lowered position until the circuit closer 9 is again actuated by the next train approaching the crossing. The several parts, the motor 23, the solenoid brake 28, the reversidirection and when the gate is fully lowered l ble switch 29 and .the limit switch 30 are i and 47 and the opposite corresponding ter- -minalsl of said switch at'48, 49, 50 and 51, lthe switch arms being movable in one direction to engage .the former set of terminals andin the other direction to engage the latter.v set of. terminals.E Connecting the en'd terminals of the motor 23 with the switch terminals 44 and 48 are wires'52 and 53, `and connecting the middle terminal of the motor withthe switch terminals 45 and 49 1s a wire 54. Connecting the wire l52 with the switch terminaly 50 is a wire 55, and connecting the wire 53 with the switch terminal is a wire 56. Leading from the wire 41 1s a wire 57'which is connected to both of the switch terminals 47 and 51, and connecting the solenoid brake 28 -in the motor circuit are wires 58.

The terminal of the track switch 9 is indicated at 9a, and connectin said terminal fwith the 7'feed wire 38 isa wire 59. The terminals of the limit switch 30 are indicated -at 60 and 61,'and connecting the yblade of the switch 9 with said terminals is a wire 62.

Leading from the switch contact 31 to the magnet 33 of the reversible switch is a/ wire 63, and leading from said magnet to the return wire is `a wire 64. The terminal of the switch 10 is indicatedat 10, and connecting said terminal with the feed wire 38 is a wire 65. Connecting the blade ofthe -switch 10 .with the wire 62 as well as with the switch arm 36c is a` wire 66, and connecting the switch contact 31 with themagnet 33aL of the reversible switch is a wire 67.`v

Leading from said magnet to the return wire 40 is a wire 68'.

The reversing switch normally stands in the open" position shown in Fi ure 10 and it will now be assumed that t e switch 9 is closed by a train approaching from the right, as previouslyt indicated. Current will then ow from the wire 38 through the wire 59, switch 9, wire 62, contact 31, wire 63,

and the electro-magnet 33 to return throughv the wire 64 to the wire 40. Thusvthe electromagnet 33 will be energized so vthat the reversing switch 29 will be rocked to the right to engag the switch arms 36, 36, 36", and

36, Jwith theterminals 44,' 45, 46 and 47.

Current will then lowrom the wire .38

through the wire 41, switch arm 36, and wire 52 to one end terminal of the motor 23, -while current will also iow from the wire 39 through the wire 42, the switch arm 36", the wire 56 and wire 53 to the other end terminal of the motor, whence the vcurrent will return through-they wire 54, switch terminal 45, switch arm 3.6a `and the wire 43 to the wire 40. The motor 23 will thus be set into,

operation for raising the gate.

Attention sis now directed to the fact that .since the switch arm 36c is rocked .to engage the terminal 47 coincident with the energzation ofthe motor, current will flow'from the wire 38 through 'the wire 41, the wire 57, the terminal 47, the switch varm 36, the wire 466, the wire 62, the switch contact 31, the

wire 63, the electro-magnet 33 and the wire 64 to return to the wire 40. Accordingly,

even should the train travel ast the switchl 9 so that said switch would e permitted to open, the energizationof the electro-magnet 33 will, nevertheless', be maintained for keeping the motor circuit closed until the gate.' hasreached .the limit of its u ward travel.

When this occurs, the nut 32 will engage the 58 and through the sole' contact 31 and shift saidcontact out of engagement with the terminal 60 so that, as will be perceived, the circuit last traced through the electro-magnet 33v will be broken, when the reversing switch 29awill return to its normal vopen position for deenergizing the motor. t

' Assuming now that the-gate is raised, the l along the track. Current will then flow 'switch 10 will, as previously described, be 'closed .by the train as said-train proceeds from the wire 38 through the wire 65, the

switch 10, the wire 66, the wire 62; the switch 4contact l, the wire 67, andthe electromagnet 33 to return through the wire 68 to ,the wire 40. The electro-magnet 33% will thus be energized -for rocking thev reversing switch to the left to engage the switch'arms 36, 36, 36h, and 36c with the switch terminals 48, 49, '50,and 51. As will be seen, the motor circuit previously traced will be closed but, in this connection, attention is directed to the fact that the connections are such that the motor23 'will be turned` in a direction opposite to its former direction of movement for lowerin the gate.

cident with the energization of the motor, currentwill llow from the wire 38 through the wire 41,y the wire 57, the switch terminal Since the switch arml *36 is rocke to engage the terminal 51 coin- 51, the switch arm 36, Vthe wire 66, the wire 62, the' switch contact 31, the wire 67 and the electro-magnet 33* to return through the I wire 68 t0 the wire 40; Accordingly, should the train travely past .the switch 10 so that the said switch would be permitted to open,

the energization of the electro-magnet 33xi -will be `maintained for kee ing the motbr circuit closed vuntil the gate as reached the end of its downwardl travel. When this occures, the nut 32 will engage the switch contact 31 and shift saidv contact to open position for breaking-,the circuit last traced' lim through the electro-magnet 33, when the reversing switch 29 will return vto 'its normal position for stopping the motor. Thus, the-.gatefwill beY raised and lowered automati# cally. When the motor` circuit is closed by brake will be a p ied coincident withthe deenergization o the motor.

Having thus described the invention, I

. 1. Protective meansfor arailroad crossing comprising a gate, operating means for ofthe motor circuit, the

the gate including an electric motor, an electrically operated brake for the motor,

' a current supplying circuit for the motor- -including a train operated switch, and

and brake, an electrically operated automatic switch for closing the circuit through the motor and the electrically operated brake mechanism to simultaneously start the motor and release the brake, and electrically actuated means for operating the said automatic switch contained in a circuit deriving current from thev samesurce as the motor and including a train operated switch.

2. Protective means for a'railroad crossing comprising a gate, operating means for the gate including an electric motor, an electrically operated brake for themotor, a current supplying circuit for the motor and brake, an electrically f o erated automatic switch .for closing the circuit through the motor and the electrically operated brake' mechanism to simultaneously start the motor and release the brake, and electrically actuated means for operating the sai/d automatic switch contained in a circuit deriving current from the same source as the motor and a limit switch in circuit with the said'electrically actuated means and operated by the motor to break the circuit thereof and the circuits of the brake operating mechanism and the automatic switch actuating mecha-y nism.

3. Protective means for a railroad crossing comprisinga gate, operating means for the gate including a reversible electric motor, a current supplying circuit'for the motor, a reversible switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, a time limit switch actuated by the motor for breaking the circuit when the ate is at the limit of its movement in each direction, and electrically operated means for the said reversible switch included in a circuit deriving cur- 'located upon opposite sides of the'gate.

4. Protective means for a railroad crossing comprising a gate, operating means for the gate including a` reversible electric motor, a current supplying circuit for the motor, a reversible switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, a time switch actuated by the motor for breaking` the circuit when the gate is at the limit of its movement in each direction, electrically operated means for the said reversible switch included in a circuit deriving current from the sameV source as the motor andv containing two train operated switches located upon opposite sides of'the gate and a limit switch actuated by the motor and in circuit with the reversible switch, operating means .to

v break the several circuits.

5. Protective means for a railroad crossing comprising a gate, operating means for the gate including I a reversible electric.` motor, an electric brake for the motor, a.

current supplying circuit for the motor and brake, a reversible switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor and brake, a time'v limit switch actuated by the motor for breaking the circuit when the gate is at the limit of its movement in each direction, electrically operated means for the said reversible switch included in a circuit deriving current Jfrom the same source as the 'motor and containing two train operated switches located upon opposite sides of the gate and a limit switch actuated by the' motor and in circuit with the reversible switch operating means to break the several circuits.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. WILLIAM BEDFORD WATSON. [1.. 8.] 

